Septic System Installation in Palm Beach County
A new or replacement system in Palm Beach County starts with a soil test and a permit — not a shovel.
Installing a septic system is the largest-ticket job a septic owner faces, and the design is dictated by your land: soil type, how fast it percolates, and how high the water table sits all decide what system you're allowed to build and what it costs.
Every legal install begins with a site evaluation and a county permit. The output of that evaluation — conventional drainfield, engineered mound, or an aerobic/nitrogen-reducing unit — is what drives the final price far more than the tank itself.
Local ground is the deciding factor in Palm Beach County: almost no natural separation, so systems depend on fill and are quick to flood. And the rules here matter — filled/mounded systems are the norm given the high water table and rock, which can raise the cost of a new system considerably.
How a septic installation works
- Site & soil evaluation. A licensed evaluator or engineer tests percolation and locates the seasonal high water table to determine what the soil can handle.
- System design. The system is sized to your soil and the number of bedrooms, and the type is chosen — conventional, mound/filled, or aerobic.
- County permit. Plans are submitted to the county health department for an OSTDS construction permit before any work begins.
- Tank and drainfield install. The tank is set and the drainfield is built to spec, with fill brought in where the water table requires elevation.
- Final inspection. The county inspects the open system and signs off before it's covered and put into use.
- System type — conventional vs. mound vs. aerobic/nitrogen-reducing
- Soil and water table (high water tables require expensive fill)
- Drainfield size, which scales with bedroom count
- Permit and engineering/site-evaluation fees
- Site access and how much excavation is needed
- Tank material and capacity
- Use a licensed Registered or Master Septic Tank Contractor
- Make sure they pull the county permit (never skip it)
- Insist the design matches your soil/site evaluation
- Get the warranty and final county approval in writing
22 septic system installation providers in Palm Beach County
License-verified contractors (active state license) are listed first.
Brian Salmon
Verified · Lic. SR0111683Chad Peters
Verified · Lic. SR0231974Christopher Weber
Verified · Lic. SR0081609Curtis Jones
Verified · Lic. SR0890773Daniel Peters
Verified · Lic. SR0890619Danny Philbeck
Verified · Lic. SR0031440Eric Woodall
Verified · Lic. SR0191846Gary Pinkas
Verified · Lic. SM0890214Heather Sullivan
Verified · Lic. SR0211907Jeffrey Gorfido
Verified · Lic. SM0211908Joshua Lerman
Verified · Lic. SR0221935Josiah Hofmeister
Verified · Lic. SR0991407Laura Camhi
Verified · Lic. SR0111696Marcos Lezcano
Verified · Lic. SM0252009Mark Orsenigo
Verified · Lic. SR0890745Paul Hundley
Verified · Lic. SR0211912Raymond Kane
Verified · Lic. SR0011384Roy Khanna
Verified · Lic. SM0091631Scott Hofmeister
Verified · Lic. SR0111700Thomas Fucarile
Verified · Lic. SR0171790Toby Lloyd
Verified · Lic. SR0971275Septic System Installation in Palm Beach County — FAQ
What does a new septic system cost in Palm Beach County?
Conventional systems commonly run from several thousand dollars to well over $10,000; mound and nitrogen-reducing systems cost more. Soil and water-table conditions in Palm Beach County are the biggest cost driver.
Do I need a permit to install a septic system in Palm Beach County?
Yes. Permits are issued by the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County (Environmental Health / Onsite Sewage), operating under FDEP's statewide OSTDS program., and the system must pass inspection before use.
How long does an installation take?
Once permitted, the install itself is often 1–3 days, but evaluation and permitting can add weeks. Plan ahead.